For Letter or Worse - Review

For Letter or Worse

By: Esther Hatch

Publication: March 23, 2023 by Bowker

110 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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Goodreads description--Every word in his letter spells mortification. There was only one reason young Harrison Chase moved away from his idyllic country upbringing to the long dark hours of working in a London factory—he was bound and determined to make his fortune and deserve a chance to court Christine Stone. But as years passed and his dream of making a fortune came closer into view, he realized there were a lot more important things in life than young, unrequited love. In the middle of his charge to reverse the Corn Laws, and make food affordable to workers struggling to feed their families, his housekeeper helpfully mails a letter she finds languishing amongst his things. Not just any letter—a six-year-old love letter to Christine. With no other choice, he rushes back to his childhood home on Christine’s family estate. If he can’t get his hands on that letter before she does, Christine will discover what a pitiful and pretentious fool he had been. Only, he hadn’t counted on the mail being delayed. Now, Harrison must decide which is worse—waiting with Christine as he not-so-slowly falls back in love with her, or returning to London without the letter, knowing once she reads it, he will never be able to visit her or look her in the eye again.

This book was previously published as part of the Timeless Victorian Romance Collection A Note of Change , under the title "Waiting for the Post."

Harry left home years ago to make money. He wanted to marry his childhood friend and neighbor, Christine. But as the son of a steward, he had nothing to offer her. He needed to make his fortune to be worthy of her hand and have something to offer her. While he was away, he did just that. He did make his fortune, but he also discovered a cause worth fighting for, and whether nobly or stupidly, he sacrificed all for the cause. Every penny he earned, he promised to those in position to repeal the corn laws. The worst part about that is the corn laws will likely cause Christine's family's estate to suffer. So he stuffs his feelings and tries to forget her. A letter he wrote to Christine years ago, but never sent, accidentally gets posted, and he freaks out. He travels straight home in hopes of intercepting it.

Christine is exactly as Harry remembers her, and being close to her brings all his buried but never forgotten memories and emotions back to the surface. Christine was heartbroken with the way Harry left without a word all those years ago. Her friend is home, and she hopes to confide in him that she's planning on taking a position as a governess. Christine is waiting on the very letter from her potential future employer to arrive. And thus, Christine and Harry begin to meet daily and wait on the post to arrive together.

This was such a sweet romance. I didn't want to stop reading, and I did read it really quickly. The passion that Harry wrote to Christine was palpable. And how she could respond in any way besides reciprocation would be impossible. Yet Harry is essentially in the same position as he was all those years ago. He is still penniless because even though he did make quite a lot of money, he plans to give it all away.

Esther Hatch has done it again. Really well written. I loved the characters. Harry was so stinking honorable. And Christine was truly charming. For Letter or Worse gets 4 Stars. Have you read For Letter or Worse? What did you think? Let me know!